Better to speak in person, not social media, says Rangnick

Ralf Rangnick has revealed he never reads social media and encouraged his Manchester United players to communicate with him in person instead.

The United interim boss’ comments came in the wake of Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial posting contradictory messages surrounding their respective omissions from first-team matches in January as the pair were linked with exits from Old Trafford.

The club advised me to have time off due to personal reasons! But my headspace is clear and I’ll always be professional when called upon and give 100 percent

— Jesse Lingard (@JesseLingard) February 3, 2022

Martial secured a loan move to Sevilla last month but Lingard’s departure was vetoed, and his subsequent absence from Friday’s FA Cup exit to Middlesbrough saw him take to social media to reject his manager’s claims he had requested some time off to “clear up his mind”.

Speaking in his press conference ahead of United’s Premier League trip to Burnley, Rangnick was keen to draw a line under the affair and extolled the importance of in-person conversations.

“It’s always better [to communicate in person],” Rangnick said. “I never, ever read or communicate by social media accounts, I don’t even exist there, to be honest, I wouldn’t have time to do that,” he affirmed.

Rangnick’s powers of communication will be tested again come the end of the season when the expiration of the contracts of Paul Pogba, Edinson Cavani, Juan Mata, and Lingard coincide with the end of his interim period in charge of the club.

Asked whether he expected any of the quartet to leave Old Trafford, Rangnick added: “I don’t know. It’s far too early to speak about that, and in the end, it’s also a question of what the players want and how the club see it.

“But these are not interesting topics for us right now, right now it is to get the best out of the season and these players.

“Even if they want to leave at the end of the season, the chance to get an offer from any club, including Manchester United, is to play well.”

Fourth-placed United travel to Turf Moor a point ahead of West Ham – who host Watford also on Tuesday – having played one game fewer, but in the knowledge that anything other than a victory will open the door to the Hammers in the race for Champions League qualification.

For Rangnick, maintaining that advantage is crucial, especially after Friday’s cup exit to Championship Middlesbrough on penalties.

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